5 Long Island family-owned restaurants that welcome yours

Family-run restaurants are the unsung heroes of one tough, demanding industry. Generally speaking, these places are not fancy, chef-driven or farm-to-table. But they are the affordable, relaxed places you and yours go back to time and again. Here are five fun ones that belong on your radar.

Hilltop Kitchen & Bar

150 Jericho Tpke., Syosset

For the Arahovitises, who grew up in Syosset, the restaurant business has always been a family affair. From 1966 to 1972, Nicholas Arahovitis’ grandfather owned Syosset Coach and Grill in the space adjacent to their family’s current restaurant, Hilltop Kitchen & Bar, which took over a former Friendly’s space in 2023.

Until early 2020, Nick Arahovitis — along with his parents, George and Sandy — owned the Holbrook Diner. But when Friendly’s became available, the whole family — including Nick’s wife, Sara, his eldest sister, Kristina, brother, Victor, and his fiancee, Nicole — swung into action to collaborate on Hilltop.

George and Sandy can usually be found shaking hands or expediting in the kitchen, while Nick makes syrups for behind the bar. Sara and Kristina helm the hostess stand and Victor mans the floor.

Comfort food with a twist, open for lunch and dinner — there’s something for everyone at Hilltop. Kids will relish the pillowy, big-as-your-head Bavarian pretzel, Buffalo wings and sliders, while grown-ups may veer toward balsamic-glazed Brussel sprouts and sweet potato hummus served with naan. The crowd-pleasing Bang Bang Tacos, made with fried chicken, are sauced with a tangy aioli, while soups (such as the killer French onion) and massive salads are popular for lunch. At dinner, skirt steak is served over airy, honey-glazed potatoes and snap-perfect asparagus; the chicken cutlets are honey-fried. The menu also features grilled fish — salmon, tuna — burgers, a rib eye and chops.

“We’re like the Cheers of Syosset. We know the majority of our customers on a first-name basis; we want to be the place that everybody can come to,” said Kristina Arahovitis. “We’ve had teens wanting to have a birthday dinner to a lady celebrating her 100th.”

Acknowledging the pricing struggle within the industry, she added that they “want people to still come, enjoy and not feel like it’s over the top. I think we’ve kept that pretty consistent. It’s the same price for card or cash. We don’t charge any fees.”

More info: 516-921-7748, hilltopkitchenandbar.com

Mama Chan's

1014 Fort Salonga Rd., Northport

Siblings Diana and Justin Chan didn’t plan to go into the hospitality business. But it had always been a dream to honor their mother with a restaurant devoted to her homestyle recipes. Li Li Chan had been in the industry: With her husband, Wing, she operated Long Island’s Chinese minichain Tofu during the ’80s and ’90s.

Mama Chan’s, which opened last year in a Northport strip mall, is that homage. But it’s no Tofu. It feels, in fact, more like a downtown cocktail bar, fuzzy with twinkle lights, spare white walls fresh by day, dewy by night from the glow of the fireplace. Coincidentally, from 2020 to 2023, the space was Gin 45, a tapas bar where Diana tried her hand at bartending, thus leading to the pop-ups that became the blueprint for the tight menu at Mama Chan’s. Jack Ricciardi, formerly of Gin 45, now tends the bar.

Whether you choose pan-fried rice cakes, scallion-oil noodles, pork–bok choy dumplings (steamed, pan-fried or in broth), beef noodle soup, or fried rice with Taiwanese sausage and fried egg, you have won the dinner lottery (and nothing on the menu tops $18).

“Our mom’s family was from Shanghai and then moved to Taiwan,” Diana said. “But most of these dishes are not strictly traditional. They are what she cooked for us when we were growing up.” The sesame chicken, though, is a nod to the Tofu days, when an irresistible platter of tangy, crispy chunks of breast meat covered in a sticky, amber sauce graced virtually every table. Here, it’s served as just-as-irresistible tenders. The chicken sandwich is the brainchild of Justin. Dredged in potato flour, the meaty thigh is fried crisp, slid into a brioche bun and slathered with chili mayonnaise and pickled cucumbers.

The Chans employ a chef, but Li Li is still very involved. “My mom’s in the restaurant making dumplings at, like, 5,” laughed Diana. She also makes the bone broth and braised beef that come together in the beef noodle soup. And those rice cakes, a don’t-miss starter that sprang from the Chans’ childhood. “She would cut them into big chunks, pan-fry them in scallions, and that would be snack. .... She is really the heart of the whole place.” 

More info: 631-205-6671, mamachanshouse.com

Pollos El Paisa

989 Old Country Rd., Westbury

“My dad always worked restaurants,” explained Steve Toro, 35, of his father, Francisco, who immigrated to the United States with his mother, Stella, from Sevilla, Colombia, back in the ’80s. Now 71, Francisco worked down the block from Pollos El Paisa, the restaurant he took over in 2004, and a former diner renamed for the mountainous Paisa region of northwestern Colombia.

The younger Toro was 14 when his dad opened what has become a mainstay on Old Country Road in Westbury, serving eggs, burgers, salmon and shrimp, platefuls of rice and beans and sizzling steaks. And, of course, there are the juicy rotisserie chickens, as common in Colombia as pizzas are in the States. Pollos El Paisa’s pollos are marinated for about 24 hours in a puree that includes onion, garlic and peppers, then cooked on a spit for two hours. Quarter, half and whole chicken platters are served alongside hearty chicken soup full of giblets and flavorful dark meat.

Toro studied business and hotel restaurant management at college before returning to his family’s place, where the elevated dining room buzzes from noon until night. “Sunday is a big family day. Weekends, really. People line up outside and wait 30, 40 minutes for a table, and we really appreciate it,” Toro said. Many are waiting for the ajiaco, a stew (and Sunday special) thick with shredded chicken breast, cross-cut corn on the cob and white and red potatoes as well as the tiny yellow papas criollos. Bandeja Paisa (also known as a mountain platter), though, is the most popular item here. This, Colombia’s national dish, consists of a grilled steak, avocado, rice, beans, fried egg, chicharrón (fried pork rinds) and maduros (fried sweet plantains) for $23.50.

As Toro has watched the restaurant evolve, he’s seen “a lot more diversity in our customers, a lot of people from different backgrounds. I have so many Jewish customers [who say] ‘I love the chicken soup because it has the hearts and the gizzards in it.’ It’s like old-school. Yiddish. A compliment.” He’s trying to keep what his father started “and not change it too much, especially the recipes.”

Hospitality is equally important. “Everybody always talks about how my dad is very friendly, goes up to each and every table, says hello to each and every customer,” Toro said. “I’m also trying to keep that interaction alive.”

More info: 516-338-5858, pollos-el-paisa.restaurants-world.net

Parea

360 New York Ave., Huntington

”Uncle Steve” looms large in the mind of Niko Papavasilopoulos, part of the family behind Parea, “That Little Greek Place” and Huntington’s longest-running Mediterranean restaurant. Uncle Steve is Steve Soulellis, best friend of John Papavasilopoulos, Niko’s father. Both men immigrated to the States in the ’70s, started working at local diners, met at a card game and became inseparable buddies. Papavasilopoulos went on to run the Plainview Diner for more than 40 years, and Soulellis opened Mediterranean Snack Bar in Huntington in January 1975.

Soulellis retired in 2018 and sold his restaurant to the Papavasilopoulos family. “I always considered him my uncle,” said Papavasilopoulos of Soulellis. “I always loved the place. I didn’t want to change anything.” In fact, Papavasilopoulos rehired most of Soulellis’ staff in the changeover, including the restaurant’s original chef, Foti Sklavounakis.

Nowadays, Papavasilopoulos and his sister, Pamela Rooney, have taken over where Mediterranean Snack Bar left off. Parea, which means “friends and family” or “company” in Greek, embodies the same familial spirit that Snack Bar did, albeit with more whitewashed walls and dramatic blue-and-white “Mamma Mia!” aesthetics.

The portions are big, and Mediterranean-style classics such as saganaki (kasseri cheese melted over tomato and olive oil), hummus, spanakopita (spinach pie), Greek salads and chickeny, lemony avgolemono soup come from Papavasilopoulos’ and Soulellis’ family recipes.

“We still make it [avgolemono] in the same 12 steps as my grandmother used to do it. We still have her recipe book,” Papavasilopoulos said. Heartier fare includes souvlaki, ground lamb and beef gyro, falafel and large plates like moussaka, pastitsio (a baked pasta), lamb shank with orzo and various types of fish served broiled or pan-fried.

Now 77, John Papavasilopoulos is retired, lives in Jamesport full time ... and has bought Agora, a little Greek market on Pike Street in Mattituck that is now The Little Greek Market by Parea. There, in addition to a range of fetas, olives and assorted packaged Greek goods, you’ll find the restaurant’s spinach pies, moussaka, avgolemono, dressings and desserts.

More info: 631-423-8982, pareany.com

La Bottega

238 Deer Park Ave., Babylon (631-314-4805), 6245 Northern Blvd., East Norwich (516-688-0111), 190 Glen St., Glen Cove (516-277-2612), 3216 Long Beach Rd., Oceanside (516-543-4540), 234C Merrick Rd., Rockville Centre (516-593-4930), 147 Nassau Blvd., West Hempstead (516-486-0935)

Giuseppe Ruta didn’t intend for La Bottega to be a family business. Ruta, originally from Sicily, opened in Garden City (technically, West Hempstead) more than 20 years ago, following “the classic model of the American dream,” he said. He began franchising La Bottega after the quick success of the place. “I knew nothing about franchises when I started, but that felt like the right thing at the time,” he explained. Two or three years ago, things changed. “I was in a period where I was not happy about the direction of where La Bottega was going. I found myself thinking of closing more than opening.” Simultaneously, Ruta’s adult children — who had worked in the restaurants at least two nights a week growing up — decided they wanted to be involved. With their help, he streamlined with a rebranding, new logo and more stylish look.

“We are four people; we had to start to focus better.” Those four people are Giuseppe Sr., his wife, Marisa, his daughter, Melania, and Giuseppe Jr., who is in charge of the front of the house and wine. Melania runs the food side, including buying ingredients and developing menus. And Marisa? “Oh, thank God for her. She’s in charge of all the finances. I don’t even know what bank we use,” Ruta said with a laugh.

The casual chainlet isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel: Its oversized chicken cutlets, hand-pulled mozzarella and gently pressed panini serve a clientele that clamors for all things Italian American. Their restaurants — some cozy with just nine tables (Babylon), or larger with ample sidewalk seating (Glen Cove, East Norwich) — are all warm and inviting, most with exposed kitchens and pizza ovens alongside tasteful dining rooms.

Lunchtime brings soups, salads and sandwiches and come evening, the wine begins to flow. There are hearty pastas and a generous chicken Milanese among the mains, and kid-friendly options abound.

While the Roslyn La Bottega was shuttered last year, the remaining six La Bottegas are under the Rutas’ ownership. “If it says La Bottega on the front, it’s us,” Ruta said. 

More info: labottegagourmet.com